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Original poster

Leaving contractors/people to do work in your home alone

63 replies

Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 08:54

Hi there! Just need some other views on this!

So we’re getting our carpet cleaned and refreshed after years of built up stains and my husband asked one of his colleagues (who does cleaning as a side hustle) to do it. The price was very reasonable and the colleague had come to our house to assess the carpet and see what tools he’d need. I was fine with it but then my husband forgot that he’d booked the guy to come in at a day when we’d all be out of the house and rescheduling would be a bit tight. Now, I don’t actually know the colleague myself and although I’m sure he’s lovely and all that based on my husband’s judgment, I’m still not 100% comfortable of having someone who’s essentially a virtual stranger (to me) left alone in my house to carry out work. It’s not that I’m assuming he’s capable of anything bad, it’s more to do with me wanting to protect my home and taking due diligence due to not truly knowing him. Also, trust should be earned in my opinion! So I asked my sister to house-sit whilst he carries out work. She’s not there to hover over him like a drone, more to just be a presence in the house. Part of me feels like it’s a bit too cautious but I think it’s just due diligence- right? Would you guys do the same?😀

OP posts:
Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:25

Badbadbunny · 31/10/2025 10:24

Surely it's better to take precautions BEFORE something bad happens rather than after, so that you can avoid it rather than having to deal with the consequences????

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No if you read… he has been in the past

major drip from the Op!!

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:25

Badbadbunny · 31/10/2025 10:24

Surely it's better to take precautions BEFORE something bad happens rather than after, so that you can avoid it rather than having to deal with the consequences????

Show quote history

In my opinion, it’s less to do with the guy - more with me just not being comfortable with my home being left with someone I don’t know very well.

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 31/10/2025 10:24

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:23

So your husband has been catastrophically screwed by a colleague in the past?

Surely it's better to take precautions BEFORE something bad happens rather than after, so that you can avoid it rather than having to deal with the consequences????

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:23

Badbadbunny · 31/10/2025 10:22

When we bought our first home, we had little valuable in the house anyway (and few possessions) so we had quite a few workers in and out over the first few months doing the kitchen, bathrooms, re-wiring, etc. Back then it was fine as it wasn't "personal" to us at that point, but there were still lots of issues, i.e. workers leaving a filthy mess in the bathroom after using the toilet, muddy/oily footprints on the carpets (despite us putting down dust sheets), shoddy substandard work, etc.

We soon learned!

Now we make sure there's always someone in, even if it's outdoor work, so we can keep an eye on what they're doing to check they're actually doing the job right to a decent standard and make sure they're not making an unnecessary mess anywhere.

These were typically "reputable" firms, not the cheapest odd-job-men kind of tradesmen. Kitchen and bathroom showrooms (not a random plumber out of Yellow Pages), British Gas for boiler replacement, etc.

Yes, plenty of them are honest, tidy and reliable, but lots aren't and you don't know which kind you get until you've got them!

Exactly.

OP posts:
Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:23

So your husband has been catastrophically screwed by a colleague in the past?

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:22

SpanThatWorld · 31/10/2025 10:20

Is your husband a burglar? If not, why are you suspicious that all of his colleagues are thieves?

All the "keeping our house safe" stuff makes it sound as though you are convinced that your belongings are of especial value. I can't believe that the average carpet cleaner (who, in this case, is well known to your husband) has any interest in rummaging through your belongings.

No, it’s nothing like that. We don’t have diamonds and gold bars hidden in the safe or anything! It’s a family home, with personal belongings. I don’t know the guy personally. And we’re going out, leaving the house in his care and we don’t know when he’ll be finished, I don’t know the arrangements with him locking up etc. it’s not mean, it’s just a healthy level of discretion. Would you leave your children with someone who your friend knows? Even if you truly love your friend, there are some things that are just off limits.

OP posts:
Badbadbunny · 31/10/2025 10:22

When we bought our first home, we had little valuable in the house anyway (and few possessions) so we had quite a few workers in and out over the first few months doing the kitchen, bathrooms, re-wiring, etc. Back then it was fine as it wasn't "personal" to us at that point, but there were still lots of issues, i.e. workers leaving a filthy mess in the bathroom after using the toilet, muddy/oily footprints on the carpets (despite us putting down dust sheets), shoddy substandard work, etc.

We soon learned!

Now we make sure there's always someone in, even if it's outdoor work, so we can keep an eye on what they're doing to check they're actually doing the job right to a decent standard and make sure they're not making an unnecessary mess anywhere.

These were typically "reputable" firms, not the cheapest odd-job-men kind of tradesmen. Kitchen and bathroom showrooms (not a random plumber out of Yellow Pages), British Gas for boiler replacement, etc.

Yes, plenty of them are honest, tidy and reliable, but lots aren't and you don't know which kind you get until you've got them!

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:20

Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:20

No, nothing like that. I’d spoken to my mum about it and she said it’s wise. My husband is expecting him to lock up too.

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So literally no one in Rl has even alluded to you being over cautious

and you’re sisters happy to spend a few hours at yours?

and it’s so urgent that you couldn’t reschedule for when you didn’t need to bring your sister in?

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:20

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 09:59

Is someone telling you in RL that you’re being over cautious?

No, nothing like that. I’d spoken to my mum about it and she said it’s wise. My husband is expecting him to lock up too.

OP posts:
SpanThatWorld · 31/10/2025 10:20

Is your husband a burglar? If not, why are you suspicious that all of his colleagues are thieves?

All the "keeping our house safe" stuff makes it sound as though you are convinced that your belongings are of especial value. I can't believe that the average carpet cleaner (who, in this case, is well known to your husband) has any interest in rummaging through your belongings.

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:19

Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:18

Yes fair enough. But just because he knows them and is comfortable, it doesn’t mean I do. I’m not even saying he’s gonna do anything - it’s just for my own peace of mind.

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So your husband says you’re being OTT? Or he’s made no comment about you bringing your sister in?

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:18

SeaAndStars · 31/10/2025 09:41

Your husband is fine with it and he knows the man. Why would you worry?

Yes fair enough. But just because he knows them and is comfortable, it doesn’t mean I do. I’m not even saying he’s gonna do anything - it’s just for my own peace of mind.

OP posts:
Balloonhearts · 31/10/2025 10:17

It depends I suppose. If he really is a stranger then no, I wouldn't. I work alongside tradesmen and I give one of them a key when I need work done and I know my family have trusted them on my say so.

Weirdest · 31/10/2025 10:17

sweeneytoddsrazor · 31/10/2025 10:03

But your husband trusts him. How would you feel if your husband made his brother come to the house whilst someone you knew well did some work in your absence. Not only have you shown your husband you don't trust his judgement you will also have his work colleague thinking your husband doesn't trust him. That doesn't make for good working relationships

Oh please. I wouldn’t trust my own colleagues to roam free in my house totally unattended - let alone my husband’s colleague!

To build trust at work, the test is NOT letting them visit your house with no one present. Completely ridiculous to use that as a basis to build trust at work.

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:17

Weirdest · 31/10/2025 10:02

Exactly. I guarantee you if anything went wrong, people would be incredulous that you left him unattended! So do what’s best for you.

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Thank you for this. I honestly don’t mean any harm - it’s just due diligence.

OP posts:
waitamo · 31/10/2025 10:16

Just lock away the things you don't want them to see, especially items in your bedside locker 😊. I had my house renovated over a couple of months (I moved out) and just put all valuables in the only room that didn't need doing - the boxroom, and locked the door.

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:14

sweeneytoddsrazor · 31/10/2025 10:03

But your husband trusts him. How would you feel if your husband made his brother come to the house whilst someone you knew well did some work in your absence. Not only have you shown your husband you don't trust his judgement you will also have his work colleague thinking your husband doesn't trust him. That doesn't make for good working relationships

Yes I know it’s making me seem like I don’t trust my husband’s judgment, and I understand it might not look too good/judgmental. But I guess I’m just trying to protect my home. My husband can be quite trusting sometimes - he is a good judge of character most of the time but he can overlook certain things - we’ve had things go missing in the car and he always helps drop his colleagues to and from work most weeks. Coincidence? Maybe? My wedding ring which he’d kept in the car (it needed to be fixed) suddenly vanished as well as his gold chain. These are items that were kept inside the car - so what other explanation could there be?

OP posts:
Tink3rbell30 · 31/10/2025 10:13

Leave the poor guy to work in peace. He doesn't want someone who doesn't even live there hovering around.

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:11

Plus, we have had a an experience where my husband trusted a colleague with sensitive information and a few years later my husbands name ended up being used fraudulently and it caused immense stress,

and there’s the drip 😆

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 10:11

Op is anyone in RL saying you’re being over cautious? You husband? Your sister who’s being put out?

Original poster
Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 10:10

Plump82 · 31/10/2025 09:50

Do you not trust your husbands judgement on this person?

Well, it’s not that I don’t trust my husband’s judgment; I just didn’t know he’d booked it on a day we were all going to be out of the house -I think there should have been more communication perhaps. Plus, we have had a an experience where my husband trusted a colleague with sensitive information and a few years later my husbands name ended up being used fraudulently and it caused immense stress, going up and down different cities to attend court hearings but we finally managed to clear his name and he was compensated too. So maybe this is the underlying cause of the distrust perhaps?

OP posts:
BatchCookBabe · 31/10/2025 10:03

Don't worry. He's not going to nick anything!

Make sure you hide your dildo though! 😆

sweeneytoddsrazor · 31/10/2025 10:03

But your husband trusts him. How would you feel if your husband made his brother come to the house whilst someone you knew well did some work in your absence. Not only have you shown your husband you don't trust his judgement you will also have his work colleague thinking your husband doesn't trust him. That doesn't make for good working relationships

Weirdest · 31/10/2025 10:02

Milkchocodigestive · 31/10/2025 09:53

Yes I agree. I’m sure he’s lovely, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Show quote history

Exactly. I guarantee you if anything went wrong, people would be incredulous that you left him unattended! So do what’s best for you.

Prawnlove · 31/10/2025 09:59

Is someone telling you in RL that you’re being over cautious?

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